Morning journal and courier., 1887-05-02
WILL THEY SrRIKE4

Much Uncertainty As To Whether
 The Carpenters Go out On Gener-
 al Strfke--A Strike At An Early Date
 PrObable-Ahother Meeting of The
 Union EHcld-What The Employers
 Say-TheY Will Not Yfeld-What
 President Nichols of The Union Said
 Last Night-Another Meeting of The
 Union This Afternoon.
 The Carpenters union held a meeting at Elks' Hall Saturday evening for the purpose of arriving at some conclusion in regard to the impending strike. The meeting was se- cret, nc reporters being allowed in. Nu- merous speeches were made, which were greeted with loud applause. From the en- thusiam, which greeted the remarks made by the different speakers, it is possible to SUD- pose that members of the Carpenters union will decline to-day to work with non-union carpenters anyway, and will probably also decline to work on jobs where non-union painters and plumbers are engaged.
 The result of the executive session could not be definitely ascertained as much secrecy was observed. A member present said that 8 strike was in order and could not be very we'll avoided. In accordance with the mo- tice given the employers some time ago, May 1 was the date set for the bosses to yield to their demands or general strike would take place. Now that May has been ushered in the question of whether there will be a gen. eral strike to-day was topic much discussed on the streets and among the workingmen at their homes last evening. Several members of the union were seen by reporter, but were uncommunicative.
 In conversation with half dozen builders Saturday evening, and yesterday they all ex- pressed their minds in free manner. Under no consideration would they discharge their non-union men. The latter would be retain ed at whatever cost They also said that they would not yield to any demands made in the dictatoral manner which the union had observed.
 The majority of the principal employers upon paying off the men notified them that the unions demands would not be yielded to, and in questioning the men as to what course they would pursue, the invariable reply was that they were entirely under the control of another power, the union, and if it ordered them out they would have to go. There could be no excuse given.
 A builder estimates that about one third of the carpenters employed in this city are non-unien men and that there are about $50 here. Several of the large firms are at present employing none but non union men.
 Stephen Nichols, president of the Carpen- ters' union, was seen last night by COURIER reporter. He said:
 "The members of the union one and all have been enjoined to secrecy and I cannot say whether or no there will be strike. There will be another meeting this afternoon at which delegates will make their report"
 It was gleaned from further and somewhat remarks made by MT. Nichols, who was in an uncommucative frame of mind, that at Saturday evenings meet ing delegates had been appointed in whose hands the matter was left. They were to wait on the builders this morning and if they refused to accede and discharge the non union men and employ none but union men general strike would ensue, and, ;o use his words, 'fIf they don't accede we'll make some of these builders stop building" He claimed that the union did not want to ,ause a strike, we'll knowing the injury that would result; that committees had in vain ;ried to bring about an understanding He fur ;her said that the union was in strong con lition; it has, he said, 500 or over on it's membership list; he claims that there are only about one hundred non-union men in the city. There was a probability that the strike will be deferred for a week or so. The delegates will make their reports this afternoon at the meeting of the union, which will be held in the Boardman building. As far as could be ascertained, the delegates appointed will before this noon have waited on all the prin- cipal builders and reached a final under l standing. Ire answer from the builders l will be in the negative, in all probability, and it looks as if it can be said for certain | y that the strike will then be ordered.